Disgusting old women. Brilliantly terrifying soundscapes. Tension that makes you want to crawl out of your seat. Characters that are so real and lovable that they could be your best friend or you neighbour. Crazy set ups and extreme payoffs. Yep. I’m in a Sam Raimi horror movie. With Drag Me to Hell Raimi returns with full force, proving that the Evil Dead trilogy was not a fluke, nor a cult classic that wouldn’t fly in today’s market. No, Raimi returns from comics with a vengance and I loved every single minute of it.
The story revolves around Christine Brown, a mousy loan officer at a bank in Los Angeles. She gets stepped on by her boss and her coworkers. She practices her diction in the car. She lives a relatively normal life, except that she wants more. She wants the assistant manager’s position and in order to do that she needs to show her boss that she can make the “tough decisions”. Using an opportunity presented to her in the form of an extremely disgusting old Gypsy woman who is looking for her third extension on her mortgage, she denies the extension and in so doing, shames the woman. Later that night on her way to her car she is attacked by the same woman and when it becomes clear that the woman will not be able to overpower Christine, she curses her. Immediately she begins to notice a change. She is tormented by shadows and gusting winds. Horribly loud sounds of shreiking and creaking follow her everywhere. Desperately seeking assistance she enlists the help of a local psychic. He tells her that she has three days before she is dragged into hell by the curse. Quickly she sets about trying to find a way out. Wouldn’t you?
This is probably the best horror movie I’ve seen in a long, long time. Sure, Raimi has his classic closely cut scenes and ridiculous tension breakers, but when he goes moody and scary, it really packs a punch. While the majority of today’s horror assumes that you are too stupid to do anything more than bridge small mental gaps between scenes you saw in the trailer, Raimi starts with the idea that you’re likely to be just as smart as he is – and just as into horror. He doesn’t underwestimate you and he plays it completely straight.
What I liked most about this movie is that it felt like 70s horror but had all the benefit of modern tenchonolgy to assist it. The gross out factor on some stuff is really, really high and it helps only to add to the overall tension and ick factor of the movie.
Telling not one, not two, but three stories all wrapped into one, Raimi has made an excellent choice. While some movies use devices in order to make you like people, Raimi chooses likable actors. Justion Long – with all the requesite Apple references – is extremely and immediately lovable as a young, bumbling professor. You understand easily why he loves Christine so much, even though there is little of their relationship in the film. Christine herself, played very eloquently by Alision Lohman, doesn’t follow the traditional character development for a girl in a horror movie. She’s not a toss away, she’s the real deal.
As you can tell, I really can’t say enough good about this movie. Certainly I expected to enjoy it, but I didn’t expect to love it. I was mistaken in my underestimation of Mr. Raimi and his crew. Get yourself into a theatre this weekend and see this movie. It was not one of the “big” openers this month, but that’s only because everyone else is underestimating it as much as I did. Don’t.
I’m starting to seriously regret my initial write off of this movie. I feel like I should add it to my “to see” list after your review.
Ivy’s last blog post..Va Va Vampified
You’ve already seen it? Me jealous!
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Yep. I caught an advance screening. But Ivy, I’m very glad to hear that I may have changed your mind about seeing this one. I agree that from the trailers it’s not the most stellar showing, but it’s pretty awesome. And remember, when you want to laugh, you’re supposed to. Raimi does horrifying and funny perfectly.
Trista’s last blog post..Drag Me to Hell
I just finished watching this movie. For the first time in what seems like forever, amidst a sea of sequels, remakes, and just plain shit, we have a horror movie that is something to be proud of Hollywood for.
I just watched The Orphanage, causing me to go on a tirade on my blog discussing Hollywood’s habit of remaking foreign horror movies and the pitiful results that follow. Now, after watching Drag Me To Hell, I have to admit I was wrong. In giving Sam and Ivan Raimi free reign to craft their own particular brand of horror after all these years, it feels like there is a light at the end of the J-horror tunnel.
I can’t believe how much I loved this movie. It was so refreshing to see a new movie from the only director that doesn’t take horror too seriously and manages to inject life into a mostly comatose as of late genre.
This felt like it could have been the next Evil Dead. It has so much spirit (and not just the evil kind) and humor while at the same time trying to scare the shit out of you with sudden noises, images, and vomiting corpses (no, seriously lol).
This gives me so much hope for the future of the Evil Dead franchise. If a movie like this can just come out of left field and wow the critics, than Hollywood should be able to see what a fortune could be made with lovingly crafted horror movies instead of easily digestible dime a dozen Saw sequels and the like. With any luck, this could mark the beginning of a brighter future for horror fans or even people who just want to have a great time at the theaters. I hope you take the advise of the reviewer on here and see this movie while you still have the chance. We do have the power to break the curse of constant retreads and just plain pathetic attempts at taking our money.
This movie is definitely a 12 out of 10 and should be on everyone’s shelf when it comes to DVD.
Sorry for my own little review lol. I’ve just been swimming in a sea of Saw for far too long and I’m a bit too excited.
Hey there Donovan! Well this was all kindsa awesome. Don’t worry about your “mini-review” – I LOVE IT! I really couldn’t agree more with most of the points you’ve made. What saddens me is that studio execs are sending legitimately good (or good enough) horror direct to DVD in lieu of the Saws and the Friday the 13th (ah, wait, let me git my killin’ mask….) debacles get in the way of people wanting to produce good horror. Look at who did this – Sam Raimi. The man who “redeemed” himself in the eyes of Hollywood by directing three blockbusters. Even if they weren’t critically acclaimed, they brought home the bacon and that’s all that matters. I wish this were the turn around of horror in Hollywood, but I suspect not.
Solidarity brother.
Hey there, I know this is incredibly late, but I loved your film review. When I saw the trailer for Drag Me to Hell, I didn’t really know what to expect — it had absolutely no humor. Considering how ridiculous the Evil Dead trilogy is, I couldn’t imagine Sam Raimi doing a serious horror film. Thankfully, it didn’t turn out that way at all. In fact, it was so hilarious, I was practically laughing the entire time.
I had to write a review for the film the following day, and you have no idea how much fun I had. Highly recommended. Thanks for posting!
Totally off topic, but I love the blog. You’ll definitely be seeing me around more often!
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I’m really glad you liked it. I agree, the press on this was not as good as it could be, but I was glad to see that people went anyhow. Looking forward to it on DVD for sure. Long live the Raimis.